A tooth may be extracted for many reasons. It may be too badly damaged or decayed to be saved by root canal therapy, or it could be causing crowding, malocclusion, or preventing a tooth from erupting, or it could be loose from advanced periodontal disease. The wisdom teeth are commonly extracted teeth.

Typically, a local anesthetic is used to completely numb the area. The use of general anesthetic may be considered, however.

In a simple extraction, a dentist will grasp the tooth with forceps and rock it back and forth to loosen the tooth from the alveolar bone by breaking the ligaments that holds the tooth in place. When the tooth is pulled, a blood clot will usually form in the socket. If the tooth is not fully erupted, it may be necessary to first remove some of the overlying gum and bone tissue in order to access the tooth. After an extraction, some swelling and residual bleeding can be expected. Typically the initial healing period takes from one to two weeks.

It is important not to dislodge the blood clot that forms on the wound. Occasionally, this clot can break down leaving what is known as a dry socket. This can cause temporary pain and discomfort that will subside as the socket heals through a secondary healing process.

Proper care of the area will affect the healing process. Smoking and allowing food particles to pack into the socket should be avoided; in addition, it is important to take any medication that the dentist prescribes. Eventually, new bone and gum tissue will grow into the gap left by the extraction.

Consequences of Ttooth Extractions

Having a missing tooth can lead to several problems such as shifting teeth, difficulty chewing, and malocclusion. Often a dentist will attempt to restore the area with an implant, fixed bridge, or a denture.

Wisdom Tooth Extraction

Many people require removal of their third molars also known as wisdom teeth. As with any surgical procedure, there are some possible risks and complications. The decision on third molar removal should be decided by a patient and their dentist.

Is it necessary to remove wisdom teeth?

Wisdom teeth are a valuable asset to the mouth when they are healthy and properly positioned. Often, however, problems develop that require their removal. When the jaw isn't large enough to accommodate wisdom teeth, they can become impacted (unable to come in or misaligned) wisdom teeth may grow sideways, emerge only part way through the gum or remain trapped beneath the gum and bone. Extraction of third molars is generally recommended when wisdom teeth only partially erupt when there is a chance that poorly aligned wisdom teeth will damage adjacent teeth, when a cyst (fluid-filled sac) forms, which can destroy surrounding structures such as bone tooth roots. Some dentist believe that wisdom teeth may push the other teeth in the mouth forward and cause crowding and misalignment of the lower front teeth and will recommend extraction to prevent this.

The most common reason people choose to remove their wisdom teeth is that their mouth is too small for these teeth to erupt normally behind the second molar into a good position. This can result in one of the following situations:

1. Complete bony impaction occurs when the wisdom teeth are completely covered in bone. When the tooth is completely covered with bone it will remain completely inside its "developmental sack" in which all teeth develop. Later in life, this sack may undergo changes and enlarge and develop into a cyst. This cyst will enlarge at the expense of the bone of the jaw. These cysts should be removed and and examined by a pathologist.

2. Partial bony impaction occurs when the teeth begin to erupt but are not able to erupt completely. In this situation, the upper third molars usually are positioned towards the cheek while the lower third molars usually lean forward with only part of the crown sticking through the gum. This situation can lead to decay and gum disease around the second molar directly in front of it. The most common complication of the partial bony impaction, is that the flap of gum tissue which partially covers the erupting third molar, creates a pocket where bacteria that are present in the mouth can grow and and cause an infection known as pericoronitis. The swelling and infection can become very serious. The treatment for pericoronitis is extraction of the third molar tooth.